Sydney Gears Up for Opera House's 40th Anniversary

The sight of the Sydney Opera House lit up in the city's harbour is always a highlight of any holiday to Australia, but this October it will be more special than ever.

That is because the iconic building is celebrating its 40th anniversary and a series of events have been planned to mark the occasion.

Among them is a star studded concert on 27 October featuring the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Opera Australia soloists.

Ending the evening with a rendition of Beethoven's Ninth will be particularly poignant, as it was played when the Queen declared the venue open in 1973.

Dennis Watkins, artistic director of the event, told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'We will honour the past and also look forward.'

A week prior to the concert, tourists will be able to wander around the Opera House as it will have an open door policy between 9am and 1pm on 20 October, with cake and music also provided.

Agatha Christie's A Murder Is Announced

The producers of last year’s acclaimed tour of The Mousetrap have assembled another stellar all Australian cast to stage one of Agatha Christie's most loved plays, A Murder is Announced.  Featuring Christie’s legendary lady sleuth, Miss Marple, A Murder is Announced establishes firmly Christie’s claim to the throne of detection. The plot is as ingenious as ever, the writing skillful, the dialogue both wise and witty; suspense builds from the very start and is maintained ever so brilliantly until the final revelation.

Judy Farr will play Christie’s much-loved heroine, Miss Marple. 

Joining Judi Farr (in alphabetical order) will be James Beck (City Homicide, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Neighbours) as Edmund Swettenham, as Mrs Swettenham, Carmen Duncan (After The Fall, Another World, Winners and Losers), Robert Grubb (Yes, Prime Minister, MAMMA MIA!, We Will Rock You, The Flying Doctors) as Inspector Craddock, Victoria Haralabidou (Stuff Happens, Thirst, Brides) as Mitzi andJamie Kristian (Underbelly: Razor, The Bill, The Crucible) as Sergeant Mellors/Rudi Scherz. The lady of Little Paddocks, matriarch, Letitia Blacklock will be played by Debra Lawrance (Home and Away, Evil Angels, The Memory of Water) with Nathaniel Middleton (Bell Shakespeare) as Patrick Simmons, Libby Munro (Venus in Fur, The Bind, All Saints) as Phillipa Haymes, Elizabeth Nabben (Winners and Losers) as Julia Simmons. 

Capping off a stellar cast is Deidre Rubenstein (Palace of Dreams, Night Letters, Josh Jarman, Siam Sunset) as Letita’s old friend Dora “Bunny” Bunner.

A Murder is Announced is full of twists, turns, mystery and intrigue that will have you guessing till the very end. If you enjoyed the Mousetrap, you wont want to miss Miss Marple as she works tirelessly to solve whodunit in this Christie masterpiece, A Murder is Announced. Coming to the Comedy Theatre, from October 30 for strictly 5 weeks.

SYNOPSIS

In an English village, you turn over a stone and have no idea what will crawl out. The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn, including Miss Marple, are agog with curiosity over an advertisement in the local gazette which reads: ‘A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 13th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30p.m.’ A childish practical joke or a hoax? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, a crowd begins to gather at Little Paddocks home when, at the appointed time, the lights go out and a gun is fired...

WHERE: Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay

Purchase Tickets at Ticketmaster

Gala Fashion Evening to Kick Start Ipswich Fashion Festival 2013 - Metro Hotels

Local designers, fashion students and retailers will take centre stage at a Gala Fashion Evening to be held as part of Ipswich Fashion Festival 2013 in the Metro Hotel Ipswich International Grandchester Ballroom on Friday 25^th October from 6.30pm until 8.30pm.

Wine and canapés will be served at 6.30pm on The Terrace, followed by a Runway Show featuring the best of local and regional fashion design at 7.00pm, a spectacular performance by Ipswich-based Allula Productions’ burlesque show, and the announcement of the winners of the PFAFF Student Design Awards. Stefan Hair Salon will be providing a complimentary Hair & Beauty Bar set up for guests attending the function from 4.30 to 6.30pm.  Bookings are not required.

This premier regional fashion event of the year will showcase the latest creations from local and metropolitan designers and retailers, including Leigh Buchanan Designs, When Freddie met Lilly by Vanessa Hoe, Naked in the Night Clothing Co., Loose Lemur Clothing, Queensland Bridal Design, and ready-to-wear to name just a few.

Metro Hotel Ipswich International General Manager Ted Matthews said the fashion evening was a wonderful way of showcasing the enormous amount of local talent and fashion available in Ipswich, while also providing a great excuse for a night of entertainment for all.

“Ipswich is fortunate to have so much wonderful fashion on offer but we also enjoy getting together for a great night out,” he said.  “The Gala Fashion Evening has been organised to not only celebrate the diversity of fashion and design here in Ipswich, but also to be a night of great fun, fashion and music!”

The 2-day Festival will continue on Saturday 26 October with the Vintage Vixens and Retro Rockabilly Fashion Fiesta in Ipswich City Mall from 9.30am to 1.30pm, featuring a parade of recycled and up-cycled fashion, and numerous stalls packed with vintage and retro clothing and accessories.

At 1pm, that same day, there will be a Catwalk Collections parade at Riverlink Shopping Centre, at which designer pieces will be exhibited, along with bridal fashion design and student design award winners.

 

Tickets to the Gala Fashion Evening are $22.00, and are available from Ipswich Events Corporation or you can ring 3812 2974. Guests wanting to stay at the hotel can call the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321 or the hotel direct on 07 3812 8077.

Lady Gaga Set for VIP Repeat in Sydney as Southern Cross Austereo Negotiates Deal

Lady Gaga performs her first Monster Ball show at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in 2010

IT was one of the must-see events of 2011 and Lady Gaga looks set to return to Sydney Town Hall for a repeat performance.

It's understood radio network Southern Cross Austereo is in talks with the US singer's music label to stage an intimate concert during a break in an upcoming tour, with February the most likely month.
A SCA spokesperson wouldn't confirm the plans.

However, music industry sources say the network is in the final stages of negotiations.

Dubbed the 'Monsters Ball' and staged at Town Hall in July 2011, it was hailed a massive success for SCA as well as commercial partners, Vodafone and MCM Media. The invite-only show cost $1 million.

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Homebake Opera House: Paul Kelly, Gurrumul, Presets and Bernard Fanning Among Headliners

Rock everyman: Bernard Fanning will play at Homebake on the Opera House forecourt.

Homebake will be a three-day festival at the Opera House on December 6 to 8

The rumours that 2013 Homebake festival will be held on the steps of the Sydney Opera House have been confirmed by the event's organisers – but that was just the start of changes to the long-running Australian Music festival for its 18th birthday.

Homebake, for 17 years a one-day event, will be run as a boutique festival over three days at the Opera House forecourt, in conjunction with the Opera House’s 40th anniversary.

Paul Kelly and Gurrumul Yunupingu will headline a folk-rock focused opening day, on Friday, December 6, from 4pm. The Presets and Cat Empire will head a dance-focused bill on Saturday, December 7, and the closing day, Sunday, December 8, has a rock line-up led by Birds of Tokyo, Bernard Fanning, You Am I, The Rubens and the Beasts of Bourbon. On Saturday and Sunday, gates open at 2pm.

Gurrumul Yunupingu will headline a folk-rock focused opening day. Photo: Rob Gunstone

The capacity will be slashed from 20,000 at the Domain to 5000 per day. But organisers say Homebake will still feature other entertainment, such as comedy, market stalls, bars and food outlets.

The capacity will be slashed from 20,000 at the Domain to 5000 per day. But organisers say Homebake will still feature other entertainment, such as comedy, market stalls, bars and food outlets.

Sydney Opera House chief executive Louise Herron said Homebake co-promoter Michael Chugg was behind one of the first concerts on the forecourt, which featured Stevie Wright, Skyhooks, Richard Clapton and Split Enz.

"Our 40th Anniversary is all about drawing on our heritage, as we launch into the future and the next generation of artists, audiences and visitors to the Opera House.  So it is wonderful to be welcoming Michael Chugg and Homebake onto the forecourt as part of our celebrations.”

Chugg said the Sydney Opera House was ‘‘a special place’’.

“I have wonderful memories of delivering shows from some of the best Australian acts on those very steps, from the ... Concert of the Decade to the Crowded House Farewell To The World tour.’’
Homebake is expected to revert to a one-day festival in the Domain from 2014.

Homebake’s 18th birthday edition is on December 6-8 and takes place at the Sydney Opera House forecourt and surrounds. Tickets go on sale next Wednesday, September 25 at 9am, from www.homebake.com.au and www.oztix.com.au

ACTS LISTED AS PERFORMING

Friday, December 6, 2013

Paul Kelly

Gurrumul Yunupingu

Eskimo Joe

Vance Joy

Thelma Plum

Sheppard

Saturday, December 7, 2013

The Presets

The Cat Empire

Architecture In Helsinki

The Aston Shuffle

Way Of The Eagle (featuring guest performers Dan Sultan, Daniel Merriweather, Amy Findlay, Harry Angus & Lachlan Mitchell)

Deep Sea Arcade

Bam Bam

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Birds of Tokyo

Bernard Fanning

The Rubens

You Am I

Beasts Of Bourbon

Kingswood

Courtney

Theatre and Shows in Sydney

There's always a lively calendar of theatre, musicals and other performances to experience on stages scattered around Sydney. Outstanding venues include the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Theatre and the Wharf Theatre at Walsh Bay, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Lyric at The Star and the Riverside Theatres at Parramatta.

In 2013 the Sydney Theatre Company offers a stunning program that includes new productions of Romeo and Juliet, Waiting for Godot and The Maids by Jean Genet while Opera Australia features classical favourites including Puccini's Tosca and Verdi's La traviata. Also performing at The Playhouse in the Sydney Opera House is the Bell Shakespeare Company, bringing to life the timeless works of Shakespeare and other prolific writers throughout the year.

Major venues that host West End and Broadway shows year-round include the Theatre Royal, The Capitol Theatre in the Haymarket and The State Theatre. The Griffin Theatre Company performs new writing theatre at The Stables in Kings Cross while King Street Theatre in Newtown has cabaret, drama, pocket opera, chamber music and more.

The Seymour Theatre Centre also in Newtown, has a wide range of performing arts - drama, music theatre for young people - and is a venue for January's Sydney Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, Sydney Children's Festival and Sydney Fringe Festival. Riverside Theatres at Parramatta has more than 700 performances a year including opera, drama, ballet, contemporary dance and musicals.

Ipswich Fashion Festival 2013

Don't Miss the 2013 Ipswich Fashion Festival - Catwalk, Culture and Couture

TICKETS ON SALE NOW – ONLY $22.00 per person. 
PHONE 3812 2974

Metro Hotel Ipswich International
Grandchester Ballroom
Friday 25 October 2913
6.30pm—8.30pm

The premier fashion event of the year! A celebration of the diversity of fashion, design and culture.

Runway Designs by Leigh Buchanan Designs and Vanessa Hoe “When Freddie met Lilly’, Naked in the Night Clothing Co, Qld Bridal Design, Pret a Porter, and the PFAFF Student Design Awards.

Wine & canapés 6.30pm on The Terrace.

Runway Showing:7.00pm

Spectacular performance by Allula Productions

Free Guest Hair & Beauty Bar 4.30pm—6.30pm . Bookings essential.

Tickets: $22.00pp. Phone 3812 2974

All tickets enter the draw to win fabulous prizes.

Vintage Vixens & Retro Rockabilly’ Fashion Fiesta!
9.30am—1.30pm
Ipswich City Mall
Saturday 26 October 2013

Stalls packed with vintage and retro clothing and accessories and preloved fashion. Join us for the Prom King and Queen pageant, Vintage Cars, Swing Dance, Fashion Parade, Miss Lindy Charm School, the Sugar Shakers, and so much more.

‘Catwalk Collections’ Fashion Parade
Riverlink Shopping Centre
1.00pm
Saturday 26 October 2013

The Gala Fashion Designs cross the Bremer River. Where high-end fashion meets Ready to Wear. Parade includes Designer pieces, Qld Bridal Designs, Pret a Porter, and the Student Design Award winners.